Planning Permission

Hi Woody

What kind of area is it in? Is it the only Industry in a residential area or would the new houses be isolated within a commercial area?

If your parents weren't running it down would there be demand for the units?

Committees are a law unto themselves and their opinion is not based on Planning Issues, what was the Planners view on it before it went to committee? This gives you a better idea on how it was viewed in general planning terms and so the likelihood of success at appeal, if the Planners were in favor, there was little objection and the committee was 50/50 then an Appeal might be worth a shot, particularly if there's low demand for the units and this can be demonstrated. Have a chat with a Planning Consultant, rather than your Architect.

A few alternative ideas though:

The appetite for Commercial Property investment is returning, if the units are in demand and the area could be redeveloped more intensively the site could be worth as much/ more with commercial planning as residential.

How about 'Live / Work' units, effectively a house/ apartment with some commercial space attached, the ratio between the two would need negotiating. Ideal for many small businesses that people currently run from home, I'm convinced these are going to get far more popular in the future, although I suspect they will remain more of a rental proposition.

Sell it now as a going concern, but include a clause to allow you to benefit in some of the uplift in value if it does get residential planning.

I would not hesitate in recommending employing a planning consultant. I've previously undertaken several DIY extensions and a self build house and did all the paperwork myself. NOT ANYMORE. My local planning authority are very despotic and I was refused on one planning officer's opinion although he quoted several sections to support his refusal. My planning consultant blew him and all of his legislation clean out of the water, in fact he showed the legislation quoted either supported my application or was totally irelevent. I won my appeal with no further conditions imposed and I await a full refund of costs from the local authority.

Hi -

I am wondering if anyone can give me advice on building a small one-storey(2/3bed) dwelling for residentual purposes,on agricultural land.
I plan to buy a couple of acres of land, set up a business planting trees then selling them after 6 years,on a rotation from then on, in short.
I have read in several places its possible to do this with a few guidelines. Can anyone give me some advice on this?
I know I have to have an established business for 3 years, have an existing functional need (which I would as security for the trees), that the business is financially sound and that the planning requirements are satisfied. The thing that gets me is "The need could not be fulfilled by other existing local accommodation" This baffles me as this means you have to prove that no houses have been for sale in the nearby community for a number of years? Is this correct?
Any advice on this subject would be very much appreciated.

Need some advise please.
We have been granted planning permission, however one of the conditions is that we have to connect to the mains sewerage infrastructure in the village and our drawings showing the Klygestor has been knocked back. We are currently using a Klygestor for our temporary accommodation and once the house is built we would connect the new build drains to the kylgestor Is there anyway we can appeal to this condition? Any advise would be very much appreciated and the way to move forward.